Unionists angered as Dalai Lama sees Adams

THE Dalai Lama began his first visit to Northern Ireland yesterday, walking into controversy by giving his first engagement to Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein president.

The Dalai Lama blesses local residents at the peace gates in West Belfast

The Nobel peace prize-winning Buddhist monk is spending three days in the province leading "The Way of Peace", events exploring "practical ways in which religious harmony can contribute to peacemaking", according to the organisers, the World Community for Christian Meditation. His meeting with Mr Adams, MP for West Belfast, was swiftly criticised.

Chris McGimpsey, the constituency's Ulster Unionist representative, said: "Mr Adams has gone round the world posing for handshakes, but the only people who still don't want to shake his hand are the Protestant minority in this constituency. I think the Dalai Lama is a great man but it's disappointing that no effort was made to meet a Unionist politician here today."

The organisers stressed that the visit was a spiritual one and that the Dalai Lama had asked to meet all the province's political leaders. He is expected to meet David Trimble, Northern Ireland First Minister, and Seamus Mallon, his deputy, today. An official admitted that the meeting with Mr Adams at Clonard Monastery was not a "scheduled element" in the Dalai Lama's itinerary.

He said: "I think that the time they were originally talking about didn't suit Adams, so they decided to go ahead with this instead." The two men prayed together in the monastery and talked for 20 minutes. They exchanged gifts. Mr Adams received a traditional Tibetan white scarf and the Dalai Lama a Celtic cross.

Afterwards Mr Adams said: "I have watched with great admiration his struggle for freedom and justice for his people. They have borne the oppression of foreign occupation with great dignity and fortitude. I am quite confident that all those who meet the Dalai Lama will be inspired by his quiet strength, openness and deep dedication to the pursuit of peace and justice."

The Dalai Lama blesses local residents stood at the peace gates in west Belfast

The Dalai Lama walked through Belfast's Peace Line, which has kept the warring tribes apart for nearly 30 years, from the Protestant to the Catholic side. For a few minutes at least, the atmosphere in this perennially tense part of Belfast lightened markedly. The Dalai Lama pressed his palms together above his head as the Lord's Prayer was recited by Protestant and Catholic clergy.

As a thin crowd, outnumbered by television cameras and reporters, cheered, the Dalai Lama made straight for Louisa McBride, 73. They embraced across a crash barrier. He said nothing, but Mrs McBride, a Protestant, was plainly mesmerised by the experience, which ended when the Dalai Lama released his grip and gave her a wink.

She said: "It was a wonderful feeling. I felt the power when he touched me. He's beautiful, he's a lovely man. I feel like I'm wired into Donaghadee lighthouse. You see the Irish? They're lovely people, but they're crazy, mixed-up, when it comes to politics." Sammy Wilson, the Lord Mayor of Belfast and a member of the Democratic Unionist Party, said: "I don't think many people in Belfast know who the Dalai Lama is.

"I don't know anything about the man or his teachings and I've never had much of an interest in the affairs of his country. I think people can afford to be a bit cynical. I certainly am."

Peter Mandelson, Northern Ireland Secretary, has agreed to amend the new police recruitment quota system. The Police (Northern Ireland) Bill says that half of all recruits should be Protestant and half Catholic.

If there is a shortage of applicants, the Northern Ireland Secretary can waive the 50-50 rule. This raised fears that some batches could be all Protestant or all Catholic. The amendment will ensure that, if the 50-50 rule is waived, at least 25 per cent must be Protestant or Catholic.